Management of Abrasions in Sports
Proper Soft-Tissue Wound Care Management Can Prevent Infection
Open wounds can vary in type and severity. Common open wounds include:
- Abrasions – scraping off of the top layer of skin
- Lacerations – deep cut with jagged or irregular shaped edges
- Incision – deep cut caused by a sharp object leaving smooth edges
- Avulsion – tearing of the skin resulting in significant injury and blood loss
- Puncture – deep penetrating wound pushing debris into the wound
Each type of open wound needs to be treated differently due to the amount of bleeding, risk of infection, and severity of the wound.
Abrasions are common in any sport in which the athlete slides or dives for the ball (baseball, softball, soccer). In an abrasion, the top layer of skin is scraped off. The wound does not bleed much because few capillaries have been damaged. However, these wounds are highly susceptible to infection and tend to be quite painful.
Management of an Abrasion Wound
The priority in treating an abrasion is to thoroughly cleanse the wound making sure to remove all debris (dirt, brick dust, rocks) that may be embedded into the tissue. Although painful for the athlete, this is a critical step in preventing infection in the wound.
Once the wound has been cleaned, the wound needs to be covered with an antibiotic ointment. The ointment should be placed on a tongue depressor and then spread liberally over the open wound. The tip of the tube should never touch the open wound because this can contaminate the product.
After antibiotic ointment is applied, the wound should be covered with an occlusive (airtight) dressing. This prevents further dirt or bacteria from contaminating the wound.
Occlusive Dressings
New types of occlusive dressings are available including hydrocolloid, hydrogel, and transparent film. Each has unique features in enhancing wound healing and all benefit from the occlusive nature (not allowing oxygen, water, or bacteria into the wound).
A research study undertaken by Beam (Journal of Athletic Training, November/December 2008) studied the above occlusive dressings and their effectiveness in healing abrasions. Abrasions treated with each of the occlusive dressings were studied through digital imaging at specific days post-injury to determine the healing factor of each dressing as compared to abrasions treated with no covering.
All three occlusive dressings resulted in better healing than the abrasions with no dressing. As supported in this research, occlusive dressings enhanced the healing of the surface skin by 30% to 45% and healed acute wounds three to five days faster than non-occlusive dressings.
Signs of Infection
Because abrasions are susceptible to infection due to possible embedded debris in the wound, signs of infection should be carefully screened for. Signs of infection include:
- Redness around the wound
- Heat generating out of the wound
- Pus or Exudate seeping from wound
- Swelling
- Pain
- Elevated body temperature
Each of the above signs signals that the body’s biochemical properties are at work trying to rid the body of infection. Minor infections can be treated by cleansing the wound, applying antibiotic ointment, and applying an occlusive bandage.
Any athlete with an infection that is moderate in size, elevates the core body temperature, or has a streak moving away from the wound towards the core of the body needs to be immediately referred to a physician for medical treatment.
Abrasions are part of the risk of competing in sports. Proper recognition, care, and treatment of these wounds can reduce the risk of infection and speed the healing process.
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